Banked Curves

Section 5.4
5.4 Banked Curves
When a car travels around an unbanked
curve, static friction provides the centripetal
force.

By banking a curve, this reliance on friction
can be eliminated for a given speed.
Derivation of Banked Curves
A car travels around a friction free banked curve
Normal Force is perpendicular to road
x component (towards center of circle) gives
centripetal force

y component (up) cancels the weight of the car
Derivation of Banked Curves
Divide the x by the y



Gives

Notice mass is not
involved
Example
You are in charge of designing a highway
cloverleaf exit ramp. What angle should you
build it for speed of 35 mph and r = 100m?

13.9

Conceptual Problem
In the Daytona International Speedway,
the corner is banked at 31 and r = 316
m. What is the speed that this corner
was designed for?
v = 43 m/s = 96 mph
Cars go 195 mph around the curve.
How?
Friction provides the rest of the
centripetal force
Practice Problems
See if you can speed your way around
these!

142 P20 22, 24

Total of 4 problems